"O the Supreme Personality of Godhead, there are ten kinds of prescribed methods on the path of liberation, such as to remain silent and not speak with anyone else, amassing all kinds of Vedic knowledge, undergoing austerities, studying the Vedas and other Vedic literatures, explaining the process of varṇāśrama-dharma, staying in a solitary place while undergoing austerities, and silently chanting various mantras. All these different methods for liberation may be a professional practice and means of livelihood for persons who have not conquered over the senses, but because they are falsely proud, such procedures may not be successful."
Prabhupāda:
- mauna-vrata-śruta-tapo-'dhyayana-sva-dharma-
- vyākhyā-raho-japa-samādhaya āpavargyāḥ
- prāyaḥ paraṁ puruṣa te tv ajitendriyāṇāṁ
- vārtā bhavanty uta na vātra tu dāmbhikānām
- (SB 7.9.46)
So Prahlāda Mahārāja, indirectly he is declining all these ten processes for liberation. Those who are actually interested in liberation, for them to control the senses, these ten kinds of processes are recommended. The first thing is mauna, to remain silent. You'll find in India there are many saintly persons who do not speak—silent. So Prahlāda Mahārāja says it is for the ajitendriyāṇām. This process, mauna, to remain silent, is meant for persons who cannot control the senses. It is better not to talk than to talk foolish. In English also it is said like that, that "Better stop talking than talking foolish." So in the material world actually all the talks that we indulge in, they're all foolish talks. They have been described in the śāstra as croaking of the toads. "Kakaa-ka, kakaa-ka, kakaa-ka." What is the meaning? We have got the tongue to talk. We can engage the tongue for talking about Kṛṣṇa. But those who cannot talk about Kṛṣṇa but talks all nonsense, better stop them talking. That is called mauna. Mauna means "You cannot talk nicely; better you stop talking."
So that is also a kind of vrata, vow. But our process is different: sa vai manaḥ kṛṣṇa-padāravindayor vacāṁsi vaikuṇṭha-guṇānuvarṇane (SB 9.4.18). We do not stop talking, but we talk for preaching Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is wanted. So there are many, you'll find, they take credit by not talking. Sometimes you go to them and ask some question, they'll write in pencil on the paper, "Will not talk." And what is the meaning of this silence? If I put some questions and you write in paper, what is the difference between talking and writing? I am using the senses. For talking I am using the senses, tongue. Instead of using the sense, tongue, active senses, I am using my hand. So this is also sense gratification. The real fact is that you cannot stop the tongue working. Engage the tongue in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is wanted. Don't talk material subject matters. In big, big meetings the politicians, the United Nation, they're talking, but talking all nonsense - simply going there for passing resolution that "Now we have to do this. Then the world will change." No, it will never change. By such kind of foolish talking, it will never change. Better close this United Nation organization because it has not given any practical effect. But talking about Kṛṣṇa, just see how it is giving practical effect. Here you are assembled here from Europe, America and Africa, Canada, and practically all over the world, but you are united nation. You are united nation simply by talking Kṛṣṇa. This is the remedy. And if you keep yourself as American, as Indian, as Canadian, as African, and go to the United Nation and talk for years and years, there will be no more United Nation. It will be . . . More flags will increase. Because this is nonsense talking. It is practical.